café con leche
/kaˌfe kon ˈlet͡ʃe/
café con leche is the Spanish phrase for white coffee.
This phrase is used to describe coffee that has milk or cream added to it. In most Spanish-speaking countries, it typically refers to a drink made with a significant amount of milk, often served during breakfast.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase café con leche literally translates to coffee with milk.
Which one should you use?
If you wish to order black coffee without any milk, you should say café solo instead of café con leche.
Did you know?
- If you are in a Spanish-speaking cafe and want a very small, strong coffee with just a tiny drop of milk, you might ask for a café manchado, which literally means a 'stained' coffee.
- The word café is a linguistic traveler that passed from Arabic 'qahwa' through Turkish and Italian before reaching its current Spanish form.
- While café con leche is the standard, you may encounter café cortado in Spain, which refers to much less milk, essentially a 'cut' coffee where the milk only slightly alters the color.
Examples in context
- Yo quiero un café con leche, por favor.I want a white coffee, please.
- ¿Prefieres café solo o café con leche?Do you prefer black coffee or white coffee?
- Un café con leche es muy rico.A white coffee is very tasty.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are at a cafe in the morning.
- Javier¿Qué vas a tomar, Lucía?What are you going to drink, Lucía?
- LucíaPara mí, un café con leche.For me, a white coffee.
- JavierPerfecto, yo pediré un café solo.Perfect, I will order a black coffee.
- LucíaEstá bien, vamos a pedir.Okay, let's order.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry café con leche, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries café, café con leche, con, leche, CC BY-SA 4.0.
